Chapter 108: Unreconciled Hearts and Unyielding Obsessions (Double-Length Chapter)

What kind of method is this for borrowing calamity energy?

Hong Yun saw that the two Supreme Elders of the Rising Moon Sect, Hao Yue and Hui Yue, had not made a move; his attention was also drawn in their direction.

At this moment, Elder Ying Yue’s state seemed to have completely transformed into a bizarre manifestation. His entire vital energy and spirit became nearly imperceptible. Or perhaps, due to certain unknown forces being activated, some mysterious energy had triggered a profound qualitative change within him.

Perhaps the calamity energy he bore had become unbearable; his body had lost all signs of life, completely assimilated by the calamity energy.

Yet, this did not diminish his combat prowess. Far from being earth-shattering, in his eyes it was still possible to scatter the entire Rising Moon Sect if things continued thus.

Even if he were truly captured, the cost would be considerable.

As for Ku Yue and Xue Yue, the two Supreme Elders, the former was clad in a precious robe the color of withered wood, wielding a dry branch in one hand and manipulating a hairpin with the other, constantly creating distractions. The latter wielded a Blood Moon mirror, desperately trying to pin down the aberration of Ying Yue, while holding a long spike in the other hand, specializing in damaging the illusion.

But Ying Yue’s aberration was essentially a shadow; illuminated by moonlight, it could manifest, but once dispersed, it became formless and intangible—extremely troublesome. It even matched blows with the two elders, despite each holding at least one half-step imperial artifact, making it difficult for them to unleash their full might.

...

Hmm?

At that moment, his eyes narrowed slightly, a ray of light bursting forth as he looked toward his lifeless body. He felt as if all the calamity energy within him was being drawn there.

On Hong Yun’s host body, the organs that had originally calmed suddenly lost control inexplicably, and the calamity energy surged like a gushing spring.

At the same time, Ying Yue’s body seemed to break free from control, moving directly toward Hong Yun.

Seeing this, Ku Yue and Xue Yue, though unsure of the cause, instinctively intervened: unknown changes were the most terrifying. Once beyond their control, the situation would be even harder to resolve.

*Pfft—*

A faint green light radiated from Ying Yue’s body. After their intervention, it directly reflected upon the two elders’ transformations.

Their expressions first brightened, then turned horrified.

At the moment they tried to restrain the body, one palm’s original five fingers gradually multiplied into ten, then twenty.

Ribs accelerated their growth, piercing through their chests; their physiques and bones grew taller but remained uncoordinated.

For a time, they struggled to control their own bodies, unable even to mobilize their own killing intent.

Faced with such upheaval, their first reaction was to use their half-step imperial artifacts to regain control, but this only delayed the mutation of their bodies.

Xue Yue hacked off the newly sprouted organs, but the situation was already slipping beyond control.

They had no choice but to transfer their souls into their illusions and escape. One of them could resolve the crisis, but in an instant, Ying Yue’s eerie aberration enveloped those illusions, covering them with a withered moon and a blood moon.

Even though the latter two cultivated the sect’s fundamental method and enjoyed the unique advantage of twin transformations, with rivers of blood and dead water flowing to protect them, they could not withstand it.

“No!”

“Senior Uncle, help...!”

A scream rang out but was abruptly cut off, leaving no further sound from the two.

Accompanying this was a chilling chewing noise, followed by the dissolution of the twin illusions, transforming instead into a celestial wailing phenomenon.

“Hehehe...”

Ying Yue’s laughter echoed from within the aberration, silencing many Rising Moon disciples, their faces pale.

Indeed, those who undergo the transformation realm possess unique abilities—able to regenerate from severed limbs, even from waist-level division, reconstructing flesh and bones through their own power.

Even without a physical body, they can borrow external means to regain vitality.

This is the unique talent of the transformation realm after the soul’s metamorphosis.

But this does not mean there is no limit.

The way to break that limit is, first, as Hong Yun did, to cleave the body and soul apart, utterly eliminating any chance of recovery.

Second, as in this case, is to forcibly expel the opponent’s soul from the body and shatter it, ending all at once.

The former method depends on controlling one’s own force; for a Da Luo cultivator whose years are countless, this is nothing difficult.

...

As for the latter, it’s somewhat akin to a forced soul possession.

Hong Yun heard the chewing sounds coming from Ying Yue’s aberration, but the body still moved uncontrollably toward him. Feeling his own heartbeat, he took a deep breath.

There was definitely something he desired inside—very likely akin to the heart and kidneys he had obtained before.

When it reached in front of him, naturally, he had no intention to send it back.

Seeing that Hao Yue and Hui Yue of the Rising Moon Sect intended to intervene, it was already too late. He could only watch warily as Ying Yue rampaged from afar, then suddenly spread his Cloud Wings behind him, flashing to the side of Ying Yue’s body and seizing it.

Ying Yue’s soul, wrapped in the aberration, naturally sensed a faint severance of its link and rushed toward Hong Yun.

But when still hundreds of yards away, he suddenly screamed sharply, turned a corner, and dashed into the Rising Moon Sect’s main hall. Although he had lost his original memories and body sensations, this did not mean he had lost his instincts to seek safety.

He sensed unprecedented danger emanating from Hong Yun.

A harsh laugh came from the aberration, which then charged downward like a tiger among sheep.

It did not attack the great demon of the Luan Bird clan but continuously devoured the illusions of Rising Moon disciples.

Many Nirvana cultivators, even feigning death by sealing their aura, could not prevent the poisonous aberration from passing through their bodies, consuming their souls and illusions.

Hong Yun had prepared to strike but unexpectedly lost the chance. Watching Ying Yue’s aberration depart, he turned his gaze back to confront the two who had blocked him.

“Senior Zhao, are you willing to call this off?”

Hao Yue and Hui Yue seemed to confer silently, then both looked toward him with a tone of negotiation:

“This matter has exceeded our sect’s expectations. Now that the ringleader is slain, please refrain from further bloodshed...”

“What nonsense are you spouting?”

Hong Yun sneered, suppressing the craving that had arisen from possessing Ying Yue’s body, and looked at the two before him, their expressions solemn. His Tanyu Blade dispersed into myriad shards, attaching to his Cloud Wings.

“This matter no longer concerns right or wrong, only victory or defeat. The Luan Bird clan came under my command to attack with no good intentions.

I can sense your sect still has reserves yet unused, but that will not quell my wrath.”

The Cloud Wings behind him, empowered by the six-headed bone phoenix, burned with killing intent like blazing oil on fire.

Seeing the expressions of the two change and sensing unnatural shifts within the Rising Moon Sect, he hesitated and ultimately refrained from attacking.

“My will remains unsettled!

I wish to uncover all the filth within the Rising Moon Sect; however, if you two swear an oath to eradicate all involved and leave no root of trouble, I will cease my pursuit.”

...

Hui Yue frowned slightly upon hearing this, about to speak again, but Hao Yue stopped him with a subtle shake of the head.

Being soulmates, their minds were in harmony. After a brief pause, they both spoke:

“We, Hao Yue and Hui Yue, swear by our cultivation and the fate of the Rising Moon Sect to eliminate all who are implicated, leaving no roots of malice.

If we fail, may the fate of the Rising Moon Sect be severed; the Hao Yue Mirror and Heart Moon Wheel, imperial artifacts, bear witness to this oath!”

With these words, a faint bright moon appeared above the great sun, the moonlight dims gradually as the light was drawn by their imperial artifacts.

Hong Yun’s mind tightened; using his calamity-seeing eyes, he looked along the aura, feeling as if locked in a gaze with something.

“Senior, we have made our vow and would like to ask one favor.”

Hao Yue’s tone hinted at suspicion but uncertainty about the reason, so he looked toward Hong Yun, lowering his hostility:

“Could you... hand over the rebellious body of our sect...?”

“You mean Elder Ying Yue’s body?”

Hong Yun’s mind stirred; following their gaze, he met their eyes without emotion:

“Now, in his state, he is either maddened or beyond saving; at most, he waits for the aberration’s power to exhaust and die. Though my blood is cold, I am not unreasonable.

Elder Ying Yue was one who was close to my master. I intend to bury his corpse beside my master’s tomb. Do you intend to stop me?”

...

“I...” Hao Yue saw the determination in Hong Yun’s expression and knew there was no room for negotiation. Seeing Ying Yue’s aberration wandering within the sect uncontested, he said no more and, along with Hui Yue, pursued the aberration.

“Stop!”

Hong Yun watched them leave without obstruction, exhaling softly. The Luan Qingliu and Luan Qingshan both ceased their attacks and returned to his side.

The two butterflies from the Setting Sun Sect were eager for their opponents to leave. Seeing this, they breathed a sigh of relief and, without greeting the Rising Moon Sect disciples, crushed something in their hands, releasing two balls of flowing fire as they departed.

These two cultivators were only in the early transformation stage, at best near its peak. Their entire cultivation relied solely on their two half-step imperial artifacts.

In theory, the two Supreme Elders of the Luan Bird clan—one mid-transformation stage, one late—should have easily overwhelmed them, even playfully.

Yet, they came in proudly and left battered, nothing more humiliating.

Luan Qingliu silently transmitted a message to Hong Yun, seemingly speaking something, while Luan Qingshan let out a cry, to which the other Luan Birds responded with long calls and returned to their nests.

They returned in a jumble, opening their beaks to spit out several weapons, boasting to their companions. As the nest stirred, their wounds rapidly healed.

Though they had suffered casualties, the Luan Bird clan’s unique advantage was regeneration.

Ordinary Luan Birds could bathe in fire; let alone the numerous phoenixes among them.

As long as they connected with their innate fire, they could resurrect, at worst wasting some essence and enduring a brief weakness.

Seeing this, Hong Yun felt much of the host’s attachment within him had dissipated, though no prompt confirming completion appeared; he knew his thoughts were not yet clear.

He flew high into the air, coldly gazing at the Rising Moon Sect’s main hall. His wings fluttered gently, sharp winds stirring the air until the world seemed barren.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

With his strike, all the Tanyu Blade shards attached to his Cloud Wings descended upon the ground. Wrapped in white bones, they exploded on impact, shaking the very earth and sky with thunderous roars.

After the strike, Hong Yun retracted the blade fragments, his voice ringing out:

“I was once dead. That I have survived to this day is thanks to the Rising Moon Sect. The karmic ties are not yet severed. Let this strike stand as a testament here.

If I still cannot obtain what I seek, I will call my friends and utterly eradicate your Rising Moon Sect!”

Luan Qingshan and Luan Qingliu easily held off Hao Yue and Hui Yue, with no decisive victor. Entanglement with the two Setting Sun butterflies was mere perfunctory.

Thinking the matter settled, they unexpectedly exchanged a glance, revealing their true forms simultaneously. The oppressive aura of the Heartfire Phoenix spread, and they wielded their imperial artifacts, releasing a long cry:

“If you truly deny my lord’s wishes, let’s see who has the better counterstrike!”

...

This was... the Heartfire Phoenix!

Once they revealed their true forms, the surrounding transmissions exploded like a hot iron thrown into ice water.

Those watching the battle did not intervene, either due to lack of gain or fear of provoking the Luan Bird clan.

Seeing Hong Yun’s strike and the true forms of Luan Qingshan and Luan Qingliu, any lingering doubts vanished.

Demon clans are indeed masters of deception!

Some muttered silently, pulling out several intelligence reports—evaluations of powers above the transformation realm.

Luan Bird clan: Six demon emperors born, twenty-four half-step emperors. The top Heartfire Phoenix has not appeared in centuries. The clan is conservative but holds overwhelming strength. Not to be trifled with.

Danger level: High.

...